Longdome Wall Security Technology

ABSTRACT

The invention disclosed in this application is a non-injurious ascension barrier for mounting on the top of security walls or fences. The invention is cylindrical in shape with the curved sides extending out from the sides of the wall or fence to which it is affixed to prevent the climber from reaching the top of the fence or the wall. The product is sufficiently rigid to prevent the climber from compressing the extending sides into handholes yet may be sufficiently flexible to bend vertically to horizontally to follow the contours of the wall or fence top as the wall or fence changes in elevation or direction to follow the contours of the land.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was not made by an agency of the United States Government nor under a contract with an agency of the United States Government.

THE NAME OF THE PARTIES TO JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS-WEB)

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to an ascension barrier for security walls and fences. The invention is designed to prevent climbers from scaling a security wall or fence without causing injury to the climber.

Walls and fences have been used for centuries to restrict the free movement of people or animals across land. Agricultural fencing is used on farms and ranches to keep livestock in certain areas. Boundary walls or fencing are often used to demarcate a piece of real property. Perimeter or security walls or fencing are used to prevent trespassing onto private property or public property where access needs to be restricted such as a military base.

Walls and fences are also used to prevent the uninhibited crossing of a country's border. The most well-known examples of this are the Great Wall of China and the now destroyed Berlin Wall. Modern concerns of protection against terrorism and immigration control have led several countries, including Israel, India, Hungary, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United States, to erect walls or fences along at least some parts of their borders.

Security walls and fences are often topped with materials designed to cause injury to deter a would-be trespasser from scaling the wall or fence. Materials such as broken glass, spikes, barbed wire, razor wire and concertina wire are often affixed at the top of the wall or fence to discourage would be climbers by either the threat of or the actual infliction of bodily injury. The present invention is designed to physically prevent the climber from crossing over to the other side of the wall or fence.

The present invention consists of a hollow cylindrical barrier for mounting on the top of a security wall or fence. The invention (product) is affixed horizontally along the top of the wall. The diameter of the invention exceeds the thickness of the wall or fence and is sized to extend beyond the surface of the wall or fence to a sufficient extent to prevent the climber from reaching over to the other side and crossing the top of the wall or fence. Typically, the invention has curved sides which extend out from the sides of the wall or fence, the curvature of the invention prevents the climber from securing a handhold.

The invention is constructed of a material that is sufficiently rigid to prevent the climber from compressing the extending sides into handholes but is sufficiently flexible to bend horizontally or vertically to follow the contours of the wall or fence top and the wall or fence changes in elevation or direction to follow the contours of the land. However, the invention is not limited to materials which allow for contour flexibility and may be constructed of a rigid material.

Description of Related Art

The Animal Retentive Fence Attachment (U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,354, issued Sep. 1, 1992 to McEdward M. Nolan) describes an attachment to a fencing system specifically designed to prevent dogs from scaling the fence. The Nolan invention comprises a plurality of rotatable members affixed along the top of a fence such that will rotate towards the dogs when the dog contacts the members with its front paws causing the dog to fall.

The Nolan invention creates a region of instability at the top of the fence to prevent a dog from scaling the fence. The Nolan invention would not prevent a human from scaling a fence as it necessity of the invention to rotate there must be some spacing between the rotatable members and the wall top. This space could be sufficient to allow for a human climber to insert their fingers or some device to aid them in climbing over the rotatable members.

The Climb Inhibiting Rail (U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,736, issued Jun. 2, 1981 to Fred O. Burch) is similar to the Nolan invention in that it involves a rotatable cylindrical member affixed to the top of a wall or fence. The Burch invention includes spine-like members that extend radially outward from the surface of the rotatable members to inhibit a climber from gaining purchase on the member to pull themselves over the fence.

The Roller Barrier manufactured and sold by Insight Security is similar to the above two inventions. It consists of a series or rotatable members mounted along the top of a wall or a fence. As with the above, there is a space between the rollers and the wall or fence top that can be sufficient from a human climber to insert their hands or a device to aid them in climbing over the rotatable members.

The Security Rail (U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,612, issued Nov. 5, 1991 to William Mincher) falls into the category of ascension barriers, like concertina wire, that act as deterrent to climbers by causing or threatening to cause injury. The Mincher invention consists of rail with a plurality of barbs and spikes where said rail is attached to the top of a fence or wall. The risk of being injured by the barbs or spikes on top of the wall is intended to deter the climber.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Walls and fences have been used for centuries to restrict the free movement of people or animals across land. Perimeter or security walls or fencing are used to prevent trespassing onto private property or public property where access needs to be restricted such as a military base. Walls and fences are also used to prevent the uninhibited crossing of a country's border.

Border and security walls and fences are often topped with materials designed to cause injury to deter a climber from scaling the wall or fence. Materials such as broken glass, spikes, barbed wire, razor wire and concertina wire are often affixed at the top of the wall or fence to discourage would be climbers by either the threat of or the actual infliction of bodily injury. The present invention is designed to physically prevent the climber from crossing over to the other side of the wall or fence.

The invention disclosed in this application is a non-injurious ascension barrier for mounting on the top of walls or fences. The invention is cylindrical in shape with the curved sides extending out from the sides of the wall or fence to which it is affixed to prevent the climber from reaching the top of the fence or the wall. The curvature of the device prevents the climber from gripping the device's sides and is also sufficiently rigid to prevent the climber from compressing the extending sides into handholes. Typically, the cylindrical device is circular, elliptical or ovoid in shape but is not limited to those shapes. It is envisioned that other geometric shapes could be used, such as a hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon or curvilinear triangle.

The invention may be made of various materials such as metal or organic polymers. In some applications, it is desirable to have a device that is sufficiently rigid to prevent compression by the climber to form handholds yet is sufficiently flexible to bend vertically to horizontally to follow the contours of the wall or fence top as the wall or fence changes in elevation or direction to follow the contours of the land. In other applications, it may be desirable to have a rigid product.

The invention can be mounted on the wall or fence in two different orientations as seen in the drawings. The first embodiment comprises the invention being mounted over the top of the wall or fence such that wall or fence traverses the interior diameter of the invention. The second embodiment has the invention mounted to the top surface of the wall or fence such that the invention extends beyond the top of the wall or fence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the invention (20) mounted on a wall (10) such that the wall traverses the interior diameter of the invention (20). This is the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is displays the invention (20) mounted on a such that the wall traverses the interior diameter of the invention (20). This is the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the invention (20) mounted on the top of a wall (10) such that the invention (20) extends above the wall (20). This is the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is displays the invention (20) mounted on the top of a wall (10) such that the invention (20) extends above the wall (20). This is the second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed in this application is a non-injurious ascension barrier for mounting on the top of security walls or fences. The invention is intended as a replacement for climbing deterrents commonly used on the top of security walls or fences, such as concertina wire, broken glass, barbed wire, spikes or razor wire, which deter climbers through the threat of or actual infliction of injury to the climber's person. The invention (device) disclosed in this application is a physical barrier to a climber attempting to scale a security wall or fence that prevents the climber from reaching the opposite side of the wall or fence. The terms device, ascension barrier, cylindrical ascension barrier, cylindrical device, ascension barrier device and product may all be used as synonymous with the present invention.

For the average person, their arm span, that is the distance between the fingertips on one hand to the fingertips to the other hand when the arms are outstretched perpendicular to the torso, is approximately equivalent to the person's height. (Scientific America; www.scientificamerica.com/article/human-body-ratios). Thus, a 6-foot-tall person would have roughly a 6-foot arm span.

Unless a person climbing a wall, which has the present invention mounted on top of it, can reach over the invention to the other side of the wall with one arm while the other arm and hand is holding onto the side of the wall that the climber is on, the climber will be physically unable to climb to the other side of the wall. The size, curvature and texture of the ascension barrier (the invention) prevents the climber from securing a handgrip on the invention. The climber would have to find some way to a secure handhold on the opposite side of the wall. Thus, a device (the present invention) which has a circumference such that a climber could not reach all the way over to the opposite side of the wall would be unscalable.

Using a 6-foot person as a basis for the calculations, that person's arm span would typically be 6 feet and thus the distance from the center of the chest to the end of the fingers of one hand would be approximately one-half of their arm span or approximately 3 feet. The desired circumference of the present invention (ascension barrier) would be 3 feet or more. Simple geometry provides that the diameter cylindrical ascension barrier with a circumference of 3 feet would be approximately 11.5 inches. The size and curvature of the ascension barrier prevents the climber from securing a handgrip on the device. As the diameter of the ascension barrier increases, the difficulty in finding a means of circumventing it increases rapidly and the more daunting the ascension barrier appears to a would-be climber.

The ascension barrier device (20) is cylindrical in shape and hollow, it may be circular, ovoid, or elliptical. Although a circular, ovoid or elliptical cylinder is envisioned as the primary embodiments of the invention, it is envisioned that a variety of geometric shapes such as a hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon or curvilinear triangle could also be used. The cylinder shape is not limited to those described in this application. Any shape with outwardly extending sides that prevent the climber from reaching the other side of the wall has the potential to be used in this service.

Typical ascension barriers would be manufactured in 10 foot to 50 foot lengths with circular diameters of 11.5 to 60 inches. These dimensions would be considered typical for the device (20), but the device (20) is not limited to the lengths and diameters noted above as other lengths and diameters are contemplated.

The length of sections of the ascension barrier may be longer than 50 feet or shorter than 10 feet. Similarly, the diameter of the ascension barrier may be larger than 60 inches or less than 11.5 inches depending on the location and application for which the ascension barrier is used. For example, an ascension barrier with a diameter of less than 11.5 inches may be used on fences at playgrounds, schools or day care centers when the desire is to prevent children from climbing the fence to other side.

The device can be manufactured from a variety of materials, such as metal (e.g. stainless steel, aluminum, galvanized steel, etc.) or organic polymers (e.g. HDPE, PVC, etc.). The material used should be sufficiently rigid to prevent a climber from compressing the sides of the ascension barrier to create handholds. In some applications, it would be desirable to have a sufficient degree of flexibility to allow the ascension barrier (20) to bend vertically or horizontally to follow the contours of the top of the wall as the wall changes elevation or direction. However, in other applications, it may be desirable that the ascension barrier be rigid and not flexible. The materials envisioned for manufacture should meet these potential demands. The invention (20) may be corrugated or it may have a smooth surface.

The ascension barrier device (20) is positioned along the top of a security wall or fence (10) such that a top section of the wall or fence traverses the interior diameter of the device as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The device (20) is affixed to the top of the wall or fence using fasteners that are compatible with the material of construction of the wall or fence. For example, the device (20) may be affixed to the wall or fence using nails, masonry screws, bolts, adhesives or by welding.

Alternatively the ascension barrier device (20) may be positioned along the top of the security wall or fence (10) such that the device (20) extends beyond the top of the wall or fence as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device (20) is affixed to the top of the wall or fence using fasteners that are compatible with the material of construction of the wall or fence. For example, the device (20) may be affixed to the wall or fence using nails, masonry screws, bolts, adhesive or by welding.

Although affixing the device (20) to the top of the wall or fence (10) is the prescribed manner of attachment for the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is envisioned that other embodiments of the device may be attached to the sides of the wall or fence.

Although the ascension barrier device (20) shown in FIGS. 1-4 is a circular cylinder, the ascension barrier device (20) is not limited to that shape. The cylinder could be elliptical or ovoid in shape. Although a circular, ovoid or elliptical cylinder is envisioned as the primary embodiments of the invention, it is envisioned that a variety of geometric shapes such as a hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon or curvilinear triangle could also be used. The cylinder shape is not limited to those described in this application. Any shape with outwardly extending sides that prevent the climber from reaching the other side of the wall has the potential to be used in this service.

The curved outer edge sections of the device (20) protrudes outwardly from the wall or fence to prevent the climber from reaching the top and opposite side of the wall or fence. The curvature or shape of the device (20) prevents the climber from gripping the device's sides and the device (20) is sufficiently rigid to prevent the climber from compressing a section of the device's side to create a handhold. The diameter of the device (20) is such that a climber is physically unable to reach over the top of the device (10) to scale the top of the wall or fence to the opposite side.

The invention (10) is designed to not cause injuries to a climber attempting to scale the security wall or fence but rather act as a physical impediment to the climber preventing the climber from reaching the top and opposite side of the wall or fence. A climber who comes into contact with the invention (20) will not suffer an injury that is a likely occurrence for a climber coming into contact with common deterrents used such as razor wire or broken glass.

The invention (10) is less foreboding looking to a passerby than many of the climbing deterrents often used on security walls or fences, such as concertina wire, barbed wire or spikes. Additionally, the invention (10) can be manufactured in a variety of colors such that it would blend in with the security wall, fence or environs to be more aesthetically pleasing. Alternatively, the invention (10) can be manufactured in colors that would contrast with the security wall, fence or environs to be a more visible deterrent.

A potential patent classification for this invention include Class 256 Fences, Subclass 59 Rail.

The present invention described above and illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 is visualized as the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is envisioned that this invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in forms and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. It is therefore intended that the present invention not be limited to the exact forms and details described and illustrated herein but falls within the scope of the appended claims.

The terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on”, “attached” to, “connected” to, “coupled” with, “contacting”, etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, “directly on”, “directly attached” to, “directly connected” to, “directly coupled” with or “directly contacting” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a stricture or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. An ascension barrier for mounting on the top of security walls or fences comprised of a hollow circular cylinder with a minimum diameter of 11.5 inches where said ascension barrier is mounted on the top of the security wall or fence such that the wall or fence traverses the interior diameter of the cylindrical ascension barrier and where the sides of the ascension barrier protrude outwardly from the sides of the security wall or fence.
 2. The ascension barrier as recited in claim 1, wherein the sides of the ascension barriers are sufficiently rigid to prevent a climber from compressing a section of the ascension barrier to form handholds.
 3. The ascension barrier as recited in claim 1, wherein the ascension barrier is sufficiently flexible for the ascension barrier to bend vertically or horizontally to follow the contours of the top of the security wall or fence as the security wall or fence changes elevation or direction.
 4. The ascension barrier as recited in claim 1, wherein the ascension barrier is manufactured in lengths of 10 to 50 feet.
 5. The ascension barrier as recited in claim 1, wherein the ascension barrier has no minimum diameter.
 6. The ascension barrier as recited in claim 1, wherein the ascension barrier is an elliptical, ovoid or curvilinear triangular cylinder instead of a circular cylinder.
 7. The ascension barrier as recited in claim 1, wherein the ascension barrier is a hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon or decagon shaped cylinder instead of a circular cylinder.
 8. An ascension barrier for mounting on the top of security walls or fences comprised of a hollow circular cylinder with a minimum diameter of 11.5 inches where said ascension barrier is mounted on the top of the security wall or fence such that the ascension barrier extends above the security wall or fence.
 9. The ascension barrier as recited in claim 8, wherein the sides of the ascension barrier are sufficiently rigid to prevent a climber from compressing a section of the ascension barrier to form handholds.
 10. The ascension barrier as recited in claim 8, wherein the ascension barrier is sufficiently flexible for the ascension barrier to bend vertically or horizontally to follow the contours of the top of the security wall or fence as the security wall or fence changes elevation or direction.
 11. The ascension barrier as recited in claim 8, wherein the ascension barrier is manufactured in lengths of 10 to 50 feet.
 12. The ascension barrier as recited in claim 8, wherein the ascension barrier has no minimum diameter.
 13. The ascension barrier as recited in claim 8, wherein the ascension barrier is an elliptical, ovoid or curvilinear triangular cylinder instead of a circular cylinder.
 14. The ascension barrier as recited in claim 8, wherein the ascension barrier is a hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon or decagon shaped cylinder instead of a circular cylinder.
 15. A method of creating an ascension barrier for a security wall or fence by affixing a hollow cylinder with minimum diameter of 11.5 inches along top of the security wall or fence where the sides of the cylinder extend outwardly from the security wall or fence to prevent a climber from reaching the top of the security wall or fence. 